Description: In
a seminar setting, students will study and discuss the current economic
and management
issues surrounding America’s modern agricultural sector. Special
attention will be given to topics of competitiveness, structure, organization,
and strategy
using an economics analytical framework.

Course Organization:

First
Week: Daily lectures, readings and discussion on the industrial
organization of U.S. agriculture.Second
Week: Field trip to the Central Valley of California to interact
with agribusiness
executives.Third
Week: Class discussions and presentations of research papers.

Course Requirements:

1. Class
attendance is required, including participation in the field trip.

2. All
students are expected to read each daily assignment and be prepared
to discuss the assignment in class.

3. All
students are expected to actively participate in the six-day field
trip to the Central Valley of California.

4. You
will be required to write a research essay (12 page maximum) on a
structural, management, performance or strategy topic associated
with U.S. agriculture. The essay must draw upon the course material
and research conducted by the student. Your essays must be typed
using a 12 point font and be double spaced with 1" margins. The
essay is due on or before 5:00 p.m. on June 7 (electronic submission).
Late essays will be penalized. We are willing to assist you as you
develop your essay idea.

Student Assessment:
Grades will be assigned on the basis of class attendance, the quality
of classroom and field trip participation, field trip questions, and
the research essay. These efforts will be evaluated as follows:

Course Withdrawal:
Course withdrawals
filed by the end of the fourth week of classes result in cancellation of registration
in the course. For course withdrawals filed from the end of the fourth week
of classes until the end of the eighth week of classes, the grade of "W" is
awarded to students who are passing at the time of withdrawal; the grade of "E" may
be awarded to students not passing at the time of withdrawal. Both
grades show on the student's permanent record.

The last day on which a student may drop a course is the last day of
the eighth week during which classes are held, except for an extraordinary
reason approved by the student's college dean (in the case of undergraduate
students) or by the Dean of Students (in the case of students withdrawing
completely from the University). (http://catalog.arizona.edu/2007%2D08/policies/dropadd.htm)

Incomplete Policy:
The grade
of I may be awarded only at the end of a term, when all but a minor
portion of the course work has been satisfactorily completed. The
grade of I will not to be awarded in place of a failing grade or
when the student is expected to repeat the course; in such a case,
a grade other than I will be assigned. Students should make arrangements
with the Professors Thompson or Wilson to receive an incomplete
grade before the end of the semester.

Classroom Behavior:
Please turn off your cell phone/pager and any musical
device during the class period. Please ask Professor Wilson
for permission to use your laptop to take notes; without instructor
permission, laptops will not be allowed in class. Students disrupting
class activities will be asked to leave. The Arizona Board of
Regents’ Student Code of Conduct, ABOR Policy 5-308, prohibits
threats of physical harm to any member of the University community,
including to one’s self.
See: http://policy.web.arizona.edu/~policy/threaten.shtml.

Special
Needs and Accommodations:
Students who need special accommodation
or services should contact the Disability Resources Center, 1224
East Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, (520) 621-3268, FAX (520)
621-9423, email: uadrc@email.arizona.edu, http://drc.arizona.edu/.
You must register and request that the Center or DRC send Dr. Wilson
official notification of your accommodations needs as soon as possible.
Please plan to meet with Professor Wilson by appointment or during
office hours to discuss accommodations and how my course requirements
and activities may impact your ability to fully participate. The
need for accommodations must be provided by the appropriate office.

Academic Integrity:
Integrity
and ethical behavior are expected of every student in all academic work. This
Academic Integrity principle stands for honesty in all class work, and ethical
conduct in all labs and clinical assignments. (http://dos.web.arizona.edu/uapolicies/cai1.html)

Class Schedule*

Date

Planned Topic*

May 19 Monday

Introduction
Economic Concepts for Strategy
The Evolution of the Modern Firm